Dashing Dhawan in day of destiny
DESTINY. That’s what Shikhar Dhawan attributed his late call-up for India’s tour of Sri Lanka.
If that is indeed the case, then the Sri Lankans must be wondering who exactly they have offended for fate to once again treat them so cruelly – continuing a 2017 that already classifies as a barely salvageable annus horribilis, despite there being four months to go.
Dinesh Chandimal is out with pneumonia. Asela Gunaratne has fractured his thumb. And on top of that, Dhawan could easily have been sunning himself on an Australian beach.
“My plans were to go to Melbourne and spend time with my family, do training and get fit for the ODI series,” said Dhawan of his movements prior to being brought into the India squad after an injured Murali Vijay pulled out of the series at the last minute.
“I was in Hong Kong actually, on holiday, and from there I flew back to India and joined the team. That was my plan, but I think destiny had a different plan for me.”
So instead of a vacation, Dhawan amused himself by tormenting the Sri Lanka bowlers in Galle – hammering 190 from 168 balls, including 31 fours, in India’s first innings total of exactly 600.
The 31-year-old’s performance in the second session was historic, as he made 126 runs between lunch and tea – the second-highest by an Indian in a single session after Virender Sehwag’s 133 against the same opposition in 2009.
He was ably supported by Cheteshwar Pujara’s composed 153, as well as half-centuries for Ajinkya Rahane (57) and Hardik Pandya (50), and at stumps on day two the Test already looked beyond Sri Lanka – as they laboured to 154-5 in response.
You have to feel for the hosts, but Dhawan is back in his element.
Of the time he spent playing for Delhi after losing his Test spot, he said: “One thing about me is that I don’t like to be sad all the time.
“I like to be happy and so I was enjoying myself over there and knew that if things have to come, they will come my way.”
For star-crossed Sri Lanka, Nuwan Pradeep’s 6-132 has been a sole positive but, appropriately for a man whose career-best international performances have all come in heavy defeats, it looks likely to be in vain.
It appears they will just have to chalk this impending thrashing up alongside the firstever defeat to Bangladesh, the ODI series loss to Zimbabwe, the group stage exit from the Champions Trophy and the departure of coach Graham Ford.
The year 2017 simply can’t end soon enough for the Lions.